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EP2621678A1 - Method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by an impulse wrench - Google Patents

Method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by an impulse wrench

Info

Publication number
EP2621678A1
EP2621678A1 EP11728272.3A EP11728272A EP2621678A1 EP 2621678 A1 EP2621678 A1 EP 2621678A1 EP 11728272 A EP11728272 A EP 11728272A EP 2621678 A1 EP2621678 A1 EP 2621678A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
screw joint
tightening process
quality
impulse
ultra sonic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP11728272.3A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2621678B1 (en
Inventor
Carl-Gustaf Carlin
Tobias LINDBÄCK
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Atlas Copco Industrial Technique AB
Original Assignee
Atlas Copco Industrial Technique AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Atlas Copco Industrial Technique AB filed Critical Atlas Copco Industrial Technique AB
Publication of EP2621678A1 publication Critical patent/EP2621678A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2621678B1 publication Critical patent/EP2621678B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L5/00—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
    • G01L5/24—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed
    • G01L5/246—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed using acoustic waves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B21/00—Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose
    • B25B21/02—Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B23/00—Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers
    • B25B23/14—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers
    • B25B23/1405—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers for impact wrenches or screwdrivers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B23/00—Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers
    • B25B23/14—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers
    • B25B23/145—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers specially adapted for fluid operated wrenches or screwdrivers
    • B25B23/1456—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers specially adapted for fluid operated wrenches or screwdrivers having electrical components

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process, wherein the screw joint is tightened by means of a torque impulse wrench .
  • the invention provides a method for investigating and/or determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by means of an impulse wrench, wherein ultrasonic technique is used for indicating the clamp load of the screw joint, and a reading of a redundant parameter not influenced by the dynamic forces of the impulse tightening process is used in combination with the clamp load indication for assessing the quality and/or result of the screw joint tightening process .
  • the method according to the invention concerns quality checking of a screw joint tightening process when clamping together two parts 10, 11 by means of a screw joint 12.
  • the tightening process is performed by a type of torque impulse wrench 13 that includes a housing 14, an output shaft 15 provided with a nut socket 16, and a rotation motor 18 which is coupled to the output shaft 15 via an impulse generating unit 20.
  • the latter comprises an inertia drive member 21 connected to the motor 18 and a hydraulic
  • the impulse generating unit 20 is provided with an angle encoder or rotation detecting device in the form of a sequentially magnetised ring 22 secured to the inertia drive member 21, and a stationary sensor unit 23 secured to the housing 14 close to the magnetised ring 22 and arranged to deliver signals in response to magnetic poles of the magnetised ring 22 passing it at rotation of the inertia drive member 21.
  • the total lapsed rotation angle over a tightening process comprises the sum of the angular
  • the impulse wrench adapted to perform the method according to the invention also comprises an ultra sonic wave element 24 and a non-illustrated control unit for calculating the time of flight for the ultra sonic waves through the screw joint.
  • the control unit is located in a rear part 28 of the housing 14 and communicates with the ultra sonic wave element 24 via conduit extending through the impulse unit 21 and the motor 18.
  • the ultra sonic wave element 24 is carried on the output shaft 15 inside the nut socket 16 and intended to both generate and detect ultra sonic sound waves.
  • the nut socket 16 and the ultra sonic wave element 24 are intended to engage the head of a screw 25 which forms a part of the screw joint 12.
  • the nut socket 16 is intended to transfer
  • the purpose of the ultra sonic wave element 24 is to induce ultra sonic waves into the screw 25 and to receive the echoes of returning waves after they have been reflected at the opposite end of the screw 25.
  • the ultra sonic wave signals are communicated to the control unit, and in a well known manner the travel time or time of flight for the ultra sonic waves through the screw 25 is calculated and used for calculating the axial tension and clamp load applied on the screw 25.
  • the method according to the invention is based on the experience that calculation of the clamp load applied on a screw joint by using the time of flight for the ultra sonic waves through the screw alone may in some cases not be safe enough to get a reliable information of the actually obtained clamp load, because occurring irregularities or faults on the screw joint could give an erroneous
  • the method according to the invention is based on the ultra sonic wave time of flight method for detecting the clamp load obtained by the screw 18, but in order to get independent information on the result of the tightening process the angular distance lapsed during the tightening process is compared with predetermined limit values. This means that occurring faults on the screw joint that would give false information on the actually obtained clamping load in the screw joint via the ultra sonic wave technique can be detected via the total lapsed angular displacement of the screw joint at the end of tightening.
  • the angle limits for an acceptably performed tightening process are determined at a pre-tightening study, wherein a number of similar good condition screw joints are tightened to a desired clamp load based on the time of flight of ultra sonic waves, and a normal scattering of the angular displacements indicated at the complete tightening
  • a NOK signal may also indicate an error in the ultra sonic wave time of flight measurement, which means that the ultra sonic wave operating equipment should be checked and if necessary mended.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Force Measurement Appropriate To Specific Purposes (AREA)
  • Details Of Spanners, Wrenches, And Screw Drivers And Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

A method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by means of a torque impulse wrench, comprising clamp load determination via calculation of the time of flight for ultra sonic waves induced into the screw joint, and comparing of a total rotation movement of the screw joint with predetermined angle limit values as a target axial load level has been indicated by the time of flight of ultra sonic waves induced in the screw joint. Occurring discrepancies between the obtained total rotation movement of the screw joint and the angle limit values would indicate a faulty screw joint and/or a malfunctioning ultra sonic wave flight time measurement, which means an unacceptable tightening process quality.

Description

Method for determining the quality of a screw joint
tightening process performed by an impulse wrench.
The invention relates to a method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process, wherein the screw joint is tightened by means of a torque impulse wrench .
There is a problem to correctly determine the status and/or quality of a screw joint tightening process, including the result of the tightening process, when using a torque impulse wrench for tightening the screw joint. Ultrasonic technique, i.e. measuring the time of flight of ultrasonic waves through the screw joint, has been used to get an indication of the clamp load obtained by the screw joint at a completed tightening process. Although the accuracy of this clamp load indication method in most cases is accurate enough it may not be good enough to get that high degree of reliable clamp load indication required at high precision screw joints. In addition, there are a number of cases where the screw joint parts are faulty and unable to result in an acceptable screw joint quality. For example, some screw joints may suffer from a wrong clamp length, premature yield, peak-jumping etc., which influence negatively on the screw joint quality after tightening. These problems are not safely detected by the ultrasonic method alone.
A conceivable way to solve this problem might be to combine the clamp load indication obtained via measurement of the ultrasonic wave flight time through the screw joint by for instance a torque measurement such that two independent readings would reveal any faults of the screw joint or the tightening process. Because of the inherent intermittent dynamic action of an impulse wrench, however, it is
impossible or at least very difficult to get reliable information of the delivered torque magnitude by using a torque sensor in an impulse wrench.
It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to the above described problem. In particular, the invention provides a method for investigating and/or determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by means of an impulse wrench, wherein ultrasonic technique is used for indicating the clamp load of the screw joint, and a reading of a redundant parameter not influenced by the dynamic forces of the impulse tightening process is used in combination with the clamp load indication for assessing the quality and/or result of the screw joint tightening process .
Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification and claims.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated schematically an impulse wrench adapted to perform the method according to the invention .
The method according to the invention concerns quality checking of a screw joint tightening process when clamping together two parts 10, 11 by means of a screw joint 12. The tightening process is performed by a type of torque impulse wrench 13 that includes a housing 14, an output shaft 15 provided with a nut socket 16, and a rotation motor 18 which is coupled to the output shaft 15 via an impulse generating unit 20. The latter comprises an inertia drive member 21 connected to the motor 18 and a hydraulic
coupling for intermittently transfer kinetic energy from the inertia drive member 21 to the output shaft 15. The impulse generating unit 20 is provided with an angle encoder or rotation detecting device in the form of a sequentially magnetised ring 22 secured to the inertia drive member 21, and a stationary sensor unit 23 secured to the housing 14 close to the magnetised ring 22 and arranged to deliver signals in response to magnetic poles of the magnetised ring 22 passing it at rotation of the inertia drive member 21. The total lapsed rotation angle over a tightening process comprises the sum of the angular
increments obtained at each torque impulse delivered to the screw joint. An impulse wrench having this type of angle encoder is previously described in US Patent 7,424,919. The impulse wrench adapted to perform the method according to the invention also comprises an ultra sonic wave element 24 and a non-illustrated control unit for calculating the time of flight for the ultra sonic waves through the screw joint. The control unit is located in a rear part 28 of the housing 14 and communicates with the ultra sonic wave element 24 via conduit extending through the impulse unit 21 and the motor 18. The ultra sonic wave element 24 is carried on the output shaft 15 inside the nut socket 16 and intended to both generate and detect ultra sonic sound waves. During a screw joint tightening process the nut socket 16 and the ultra sonic wave element 24 are intended to engage the head of a screw 25 which forms a part of the screw joint 12. The nut socket 16 is intended to transfer
tightening torque impulses to the screw 25, whereas the purpose of the ultra sonic wave element 24 is to induce ultra sonic waves into the screw 25 and to receive the echoes of returning waves after they have been reflected at the opposite end of the screw 25. The ultra sonic wave signals are communicated to the control unit, and in a well known manner the travel time or time of flight for the ultra sonic waves through the screw 25 is calculated and used for calculating the axial tension and clamp load applied on the screw 25.
The method according to the invention is based on the experience that calculation of the clamp load applied on a screw joint by using the time of flight for the ultra sonic waves through the screw alone may in some cases not be safe enough to get a reliable information of the actually obtained clamp load, because occurring irregularities or faults on the screw joint could give an erroneous
information of the obtained clamp load. Also, the equipment for the ultra sonic wave investigation of the screw clamp load could malfunction and give erroneous information.
Nevertheless, the method according to the invention is based on the ultra sonic wave time of flight method for detecting the clamp load obtained by the screw 18, but in order to get independent information on the result of the tightening process the angular distance lapsed during the tightening process is compared with predetermined limit values. This means that occurring faults on the screw joint that would give false information on the actually obtained clamping load in the screw joint via the ultra sonic wave technique can be detected via the total lapsed angular displacement of the screw joint at the end of tightening. The angle limits for an acceptably performed tightening process are determined at a pre-tightening study, wherein a number of similar good condition screw joints are tightened to a desired clamp load based on the time of flight of ultra sonic waves, and a normal scattering of the angular displacements indicated at the complete tightening
processes is determined and used for establishing
acceptable angle limits.
If during production tightening of a screw joint of the actual type a desired clamp load is obtained as confirmed by a calculation based on the time of flight of ultra sonic waves through the screw joint but the indicated total angular displacement of the screw joint does not comply with the pre-tightening established limit values there is
generated NOK signal. So, although the axial load calculated from the indicated time of flight for the ultra sonic waves has reached its target value the actually obtained axial load is not of the desired magnitude due to a faulty or damaged screw joint. In this situation the screw joint has to be dismantled and examined for occurring faults.
Particularly in a critical type of screw joint this
auxiliary angle registration is essential for guaranteeing the quality and safety of the structure including the actual screw joint. A NOK signal may also indicate an error in the ultra sonic wave time of flight measurement, which means that the ultra sonic wave operating equipment should be checked and if necessary mended.

Claims

Claims .
1. Method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process wherein a screw joint is tightened by a torque impulse wrench, comprising the following steps:
• indicating during the tightening process the
clamp load obtained in the screw joint by
repeatedly monitoring the time of flight of ultrasonic waves induced in the screw joint during the tightening process,
• indicating the rotational movement of the screw joint during the tightening process, and
• comparing the obtained clamp load and the indicated rotational movement of the screw joint with predetermined limit values to investigate quality acceptance for the performed tightening process .
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said
rotational movement is obtained by summarizing the
successive rotational increments obtained at repeated torque impulses.
3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said
successive rotational increments are indicated as a
stepwise displacement of the stop point of the inertia drive member of the impulse mechanism of the impulse wrench at each successive impulse where kinetic energy is
transferred from the inertia drive member to the output shaft of the impulse wrench.
EP11728272.3A 2010-09-30 2011-06-29 Method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by an impulse wrench Active EP2621678B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1051016A SE535392C2 (en) 2010-09-30 2010-09-30 Method for determining the quality of tightening of a screw joint
PCT/EP2011/060906 WO2012041546A1 (en) 2010-09-30 2011-06-29 Method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by an impulse wrench

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2621678A1 true EP2621678A1 (en) 2013-08-07
EP2621678B1 EP2621678B1 (en) 2014-06-25

Family

ID=44508489

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11728272.3A Active EP2621678B1 (en) 2010-09-30 2011-06-29 Method for determining the quality of a screw joint tightening process performed by an impulse wrench

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US9021896B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2621678B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5818277B2 (en)
CN (1) CN103153546B (en)
SE (1) SE535392C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2012041546A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010070966A1 (en) * 2008-12-16 2010-06-24 本田技研工業株式会社 Fastening device, method of loading fastening member, and device for loading fastening member
CN102967403A (en) * 2012-08-10 2013-03-13 贵州航天精工制造有限公司 Testing method for obtaining 1500-time stable locking torque of floating nut
WO2014095471A1 (en) * 2012-12-18 2014-06-26 Atlas Copco Industrial Technique Ab Method and apparatus for evaluating clamp force in a bolt by means of ultra-sonic measurements
JP5950982B2 (en) * 2014-11-14 2016-07-13 株式会社Ｉｒｏ Torque wrench and automatic recognition system
SE1551633A1 (en) * 2015-12-14 2017-04-11 Atlas Copco Ind Technique Ab Impulse wrench rotation detection
CN108015530A (en) * 2017-12-14 2018-05-11 哈尔滨零声科技有限公司 A kind of bolt pretightening loads automatically and control device
CN109470773A (en) * 2018-12-13 2019-03-15 深圳市德航智能技术有限公司 A kind of caliberating device and its working method of ultrasonic detecting probe
US11890728B2 (en) 2021-05-19 2024-02-06 Nextgen Aerospace Technologies, Llc Concentrated longitudinal acoustical/ultrasonic energy fastener design and manipulation system
CN114623962B (en) * 2022-02-24 2023-08-18 武汉大学 Bolt transverse load distribution measurement method based on phased array ultrasonic rotary scanning

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DE4336465A1 (en) * 1993-10-26 1995-04-27 Bosch Gmbh Robert Impact or pulse screwing
DE19707589B4 (en) * 1997-02-26 2015-06-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Device and method for tightening screw connections
SE511336C2 (en) * 1997-10-27 1999-09-13 Atlas Copco Tools Ab Method for determining the installed torque in a screw joint during pulse tightening, method for controlling a tightening process, method for quality monitoring and a torque pulse tool for tightening screw joints
SE527512C2 (en) * 2004-04-01 2006-03-28 Atlas Copco Tools Ab Method for determining the angular movement of the output shaft of an impulse nut puller when tightening screw joints
JP2008087149A (en) * 2006-09-05 2008-04-17 Kuken:Kk Screw fastening axial force control method by impact wrench
DE102007059929A1 (en) * 2007-12-04 2009-06-10 C. & E. Fein Gmbh Wrench and method for controlling the tightening angle of fittings

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20130192389A1 (en) 2013-08-01
EP2621678B1 (en) 2014-06-25
CN103153546A (en) 2013-06-12
SE535392C2 (en) 2012-07-24
CN103153546B (en) 2015-06-03
WO2012041546A1 (en) 2012-04-05
JP5818277B2 (en) 2015-11-18
JP2013542081A (en) 2013-11-21
SE1051016A1 (en) 2012-03-31
US9021896B2 (en) 2015-05-05

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